Nigeria gets Back 600 Year Old Artefact From The Netherlands

Nigeria has received priceless terracotta head believed to be at least 600 years old which was smuggled to the Netherlands the information minister said. It was taken from the south western city of IleIfe and then smuggled through Ghana. Dutch ambassador to Nigeria Harry Van Dijk on Thursday returned it to Information Minister Lai

Mohammed in ceremony in the Nigerian capital, Abuja. The smuggler had obtained forged documents to take it out of the country Mohammed was quoted as saying in a statement. The Dutch customs then intercepted it at the Amsterdam airport and then alerted the Information and Heritage Inspectorate of the Netherlands to give an

opinion the statement said. The Dutch officials then contacted their Nigerian counterparts leading to return of priceless and timeless artefact he said. Hundreds of Nigerian artefacts including Benin bronzes that were stolen during the pre colonial and colonial period are in museums in Europe and the United States. Mohammed said that Nigeria would continue to seek their return.